INSULTING AND BLASPHEMING RASULULLAH (SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM)

The worst crime which man is capable of is to deny the Existence of Allah Ta’ala and to commit shirk (assign partners) with Him. There is no greater sin than shirk. That is why the Qur’aan Majeed declares that while Allah Ta’ala forgives all sins, He does not forgive the sin of shirk. Only by means of true repentance will Allah Ta’ala forgive the mushrik.

Next in notoriety and gravity of sin is to blaspheme and insult Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Nothing pains the heart of the Mu’min more than the commission of blasphemy against Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and insulting him. In our age this crime of blasphemy against Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is on the increase. The kuffaar in both the east and west have made it their occupation to blaspheme Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Muslims should understand that the temerity with which the kuffaar are blaspheming our Beloved Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is actually a punishment for our own abandonment of the Sunnah – not only abandonment, but blaspheming against the Sunnah with actions and interpretations crafted by Iblees to abrogate the Sunnah. When Muslims mock and scorn the Sunnah, they are in reality blaspheming Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Due to the Imaani bankruptcy of the Ummah, Muslims find themselves wholly impotent to defend the honour of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) against those who blaspheme him. While there are scores of Muslim countries, not a single one of them nor collectively are they able to defend the honour of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) against the kuffaar blasphemers.

Muslims residing in the lands of the kuffaar can obviously not take the law into their own hands to avenge the honour of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Nevertheless, they are required to abhor the blasphemers and to invoke the Curse and Wrath of Allah Azza Wa Jal on them.

If a Muslim who hears of insult against Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is not pained and feels no emotional hurt, it will be evidence for his/her lack of Imaan. No one and nothing is closer and dearer to the Muslim’s heart than Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) even if the Muslim happens to be a faasiq and faajir.

Once during the khilaafat of Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu), a Nasaara priest insulted Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Some children playing in the street were overwhelmed with anger when they heard the insulting words. They pounced on the priest and beat him to death. The family of the priest complained to Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu) and demanded retribution. After listening to the circumstances of the killing of the priest, Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu), instead of punishing and rebuking these children, highly praised them. He was delighted by the fervour of the Imaan of the children. He dismissed the case of the priest’s family.

This episode adequately illustrates the evil and gravity of blaspheming Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Despite the killing being an extra- judicial action executed by children, Ameerul Mu’mineen Umar Ibn Khattaab (Radhiyallahu anhu) highly praised the youngsters who had extracted revenge from the priest when he had blasphemed and impugned the high honour of our Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

On the occasion of the Conquest of Makkah Mukarramah, Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had proclaimed a general amnesty. The kuffaar were forgiven and were granted safety besides a few exceptions who were excluded from the amnesty. Among the exceptions were two females who were executed. Their crime was blasphemy. At the behest of their master, they would compose derogatory and blasphemous songs about Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). The notoriety of the villainy of their crime of blasphemy excluded these two women from the amnesty and they were put to death on this occasion.

In this age of utter helplessness and humiliation, degradation and disgrace of the Ummah, the kuffaar are incrementally resorting to the villainy of blaspheming our Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Although Muslims in this age have no means of vengeance against the blasphemers even in Muslim countries, the very least which is incumbently required, is to invoke the Curses of Allah Ta’ala on the blasphemers. Dua is a powerful weapon. Muslims who are not pained by the insults hurled at our Beloved Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) should examine their Imaan. The imperviousness of their hearts indicates either extreme Imaani deficiency or total lack of Imaan.

Everyone is aware of the Hadith which mentions that the weakest form of Imaan is to at least abhor evil in the heart. Minus heartfelt abhorrence, there is no Imaan left. This is confirmed by the Hadith. Therefore, if a person who professes to be Muslim, does not become emotionally deranged and pained when Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is blasphemed, he/she should understand that he/she is a munaafiq. There is no greater sin than blaspheming our Beloved Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). If we are unable to physically and verbally take action as commanded by the Hadith, then the very last degree of Imaan is to abhor it in the heart.

It is also essential to understand why does Allah Azza Wa Jal permit these kuffaar to succeed in their blasphemy. In reality, blaspheming our Beloved Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi) wasallam) is a form of punishment for Muslims. The pain which the blasphemy causes us is a punishment for our own blasphemy of another kind. When Muslims scorn, mock and abandon the Sunnah, they are actually blaspheming Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). They bring immense grief to the heart of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Allah Ta’ala then allows the kuffaar enemy to insult, pillage and plunder all things which are dear and beloved to us. Thus, we find in this age the honour of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the sanctity of the Qur’aan Majeed and the Musaajid being defiled, insulted and blasphemed by the kuffaar.

Warning us of this type of punishment meted out by the hands of the kuffaar, the Qur’aan Majeed states:

“…Then when the first of the two promised occasions dawned, We sent against you (Bani Israaeel) such of Our servants who were powerful in warfare. They penetrated (your) homes, and it was a promise (of Athaab) decreed.

(Bani Israaeel, Aayat 5)

Then when the second promised occasion came (We allowed it) so that they (the kuffaar) could blacken (disfigure) your faces and so that they may invade the Musjid (i.e. Musjidul Aqsa) as they had invaded it the first time, and so that they may utterly destroy whatever they overran.”

(Bani Israaeel, Aayat 7)

In the insults and destruction caused by the kuffaar – in their acts of blasphemy and desecration of the Qur’aan Majeed – we should understand and see the Athaab of Allah Azza Wa Jal. The actual solution is Inaabat ilallaah. That is to turn unto Allah Ta’ala with repentance, obedience and Islaah of the nafs (self-reformation).

The Qur’aan and Ahaadith emphasize that Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is closer and more beloved to the Mu’mineen than their own selves. But today, the kufr in the hearts induces abandonment of the Sunnah. This is the evidence for the lack of Imaan.

14 Zul Hujj 1443 – 14 July 2022